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Laredo ISD athletic report: SHAC outreach, learn‑to‑swim funding needs and 14 national letters of intent
Summary
Athletic director Luis Escamilla reviewed SHAC topics, learn‑to‑swim participation and funding status, average daily attendance measures for student athletes and reported 14 national letters of intent this year; trustees asked staff to provide counts of students in special‑education units and requested better cross‑checks for award eligibility.
Luis Escamilla, Laredo ISD athletic director, briefed the Student Services Committee on the district’s SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) meetings, the learn‑to‑swim program, average daily attendance (ADA) figures tied to athletics, and national letters of intent signed by student‑athletes.
Escamilla said the district exceeded the Texas Education Code requirement for SHAC meetings (Texas Education Code 28.004) by holding five SHAC events this year. Topics covered across the meetings included flu vaccines, vaping prevention, school‑based telehealth, EKG screenings, immunizations, oral hygiene and healthy relationships; staff and outside presenters were invited for several sessions.
On the learn‑to‑swim program, Escamilla and other staff told trustees the program had previously served four middle schools with an initial cost of about $15,000–$16,000 and was expanded to additional elementary campuses when additional funds were available. Staff said the program is currently waiting for federal grant funding; if federal funds are not awarded the program sponsors will seek local discretionary funds.
Escamilla reviewed athletic participation and attendance reporting. He said the district uses Skyward to generate ADA reports for student athletes and that this year the student‑athlete ADA figure ran about 93.75%, a slight dip from 94.04% the prior year. He told the board the athletic office provides lists to Skyward and that the ADA figures are produced from that system.
Trustees asked several process questions. Trustee Juan Ramirez and others requested clearer cross‑checks to ensure students who receive awards (ACE/AAA) meet the criteria (perfect attendance, A honor roll and no disciplinary referrals). Trustee Perez asked whether excused absences such as documented doctor's appointments or a death in the family are considered for perfect‑attendance awards; staff said excused absences (with documentation) should be accounted for and not necessarily disqualify a student.
On national letters of intent, Escamilla said Laredo ISD had 14 athletes sign letters this year across campuses, with the distribution noted in the meeting as 2 at Martin (one still to be determined), 7 at Nixon and 5 at Sierra. He said staff have in some cases kept contact with alumni and that coaches have invited former athletes back as role models; trustees asked staff to explore a more systematic alumni tracking database.
Trustees asked for several follow‑ups: a count of how many students in special‑education units are enrolled in learn‑to‑swim, an improved checklist to verify award eligibility, and confirmation of federal funding decisions to restart expanded learn‑to‑swim offerings.
